A few hours spent with Los Angeles based wild food forager, Pascal Baudar will open your eyes to the wonders and diversity of the edible natural world. That natural world will come alive in ways perhaps you didn't think were possible. Plants growing wild which can be harvested and prepared as food are literally everywhere. Pascal is one of only a very select few professional wild food foragers in Los Angeles. There is a reason for that - … [Read more...]
Let Les Bons Temps Roules in Red New Orleans
John M. Edwards discovers New Orleans unique cuisine to be out of this world, not just Creole and Cajun clichés (“Gumbo” and “Jambalaya”), but also, well, nothing beats an Oyster Poboy! At the legendary Napoleon House in New Orleans, Lousiana, I found myself expectantly dreaming of a dressed “Oyster Poboy,” especially since they had not even one of them on their menus. (Hurricane Katrina had literally wiped out many of the oyster beds way back … [Read more...]
Old Florida charm in Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach in the Florida panhandle is one of those places that remind you of a combination of other places, a blend of kitschy charm found in Myrtle Beach, Atlantic City and Key West. It’s a place unto its own, though, and one where you’ll soon find, by dialect and design, a place apart from what you might usually think of as the Sunshine State. South Florida, more a mindset than geographical location, is arguably from the middle of … [Read more...]
Meredith – New Hampshire
If you're at all familiar with the Lakes Region in New Hampshire, then chances are you know the town of Meredith. Or did know it. If you haven't visited the tiny little community on Lake Winnipesaukee in the past 20-plus years, chances are you wouldn't recognize the place. What was once a sleepy little mill town - where an asbestos factory once loomed and was mostly just a cut through to the White Mountains – is now a bustling tourist … [Read more...]
Matunuck Oyster Bar Rhode Island
Forget hands on. Think feet and bellies. When taking a tour of the aquaculture shellfish farm behind the Matunuck Oyster Bar restaurant in South Kingstown, R.I., you not only learn about where your food comes from, you walk through its breeding grounds, and if you're lucky, harvest a few oysters to eat later. Sometimes the nibbling is sooner. On a tour last summer, led by owner of the shellfish farm and restaurant, Perry Raso,who does them … [Read more...]
Chatham Vineyards Virginia
I recently ventured to Virginia to acquaint myself with this state's blossoming wine industry. Wine in Virginia has a venerable history, dating back to Jamestown and the ten vines that each settler was required to tend. Local boy Thomas Jefferson was on a life-long quest to produce a successful vineyard, and judging from my recent visit, he would be pleased with what today's producers are doing. There are nearly 200 wineries throughout the … [Read more...]
Guinness and Gears: How to Cycle Across Ireland Without Falling Down
Picture it... Green rolling hills spanning the entire country, stunning coastal cliffs, and the most charming people in the world (even though you can't understand a lick of what their saying). Welcome to Ireland, the perfect cycle destination for your summer vacation. Getting There Ireland's main international airport is located in Dublin on the east coast of Ireland. When to Go The best time to cycle Ireland is during the summer … [Read more...]
Mardi Gras Traditions run Deep in Biloxi
While New Orleans gets all the press and publicity about Mardi Gras there's an equally fun party occurring in Biloxi Mississippi. It is rare to have a more collective community experience than a Mardi Gras parade and the city of Biloxi on Mississippi's Gulf Coast certainly knows how to create an annual enormous fun filled, safe and family friendly party. The dates for Mardi Gras vary every year; the main parade is always held on a Tuesday - … [Read more...]
Massachusetts launches Autumn Website
MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM LAUNCHES AUTUMN WEB SITE FOR TRAVELERS LOOKING FOR BRIGHT COLORS, TASTY HARVEST EVENTS AND SEASONAL FALL ATTRACTIONS Site Helps Travelers Plan for A Quintessential MA Fall Experience BOSTON, September 14, 2010. The Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism (MOTT) announces the launch of new efforts to highlight the Commonwealth's beautiful fall foliage and autumn events. For consumers, a … [Read more...]
Day 1 – New Orleans
Any trip to this part of Louisiana should start with a stay in New Orleans, specifically in the French Quarter. What better a place to call home for a few days than the Hotel Monteleone . This hotel dates from 1886, is still family owned and is located in the heart of New Orleans's French Quarter. It is definitely "the" hotel to stay at in this part of the city. In the mood for decadence and elegance - Hotel Monteleone serves this up by the … [Read more...]